Fresno Dome

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Fresno Dome
Fresno Dome Madera County.jpg
Fresno Dome's northern face as seen from the Fresno Dome trail.
Highest point
Elevation 7,544 ft (2,299 m)  NAVD 88 [1]
Prominence 260 ft (79 m) [1]
Coordinates 37°27′16″N119°32′12″W / 37.4543843°N 119.5365338°W / 37.4543843; -119.5365338 [2]
Geography
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Fresno Dome
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Fresno Dome
Location Sierra National Forest,
Madera County, California, U.S.
Parent range Sierra Nevada
Topo map USGS White Chief Mountains
Geology
Rock age Cretaceous
Mountain type Granite dome
Climbing
Easiest route Trail hike (class 1) [3]

Fresno Dome is a dominant granite dome rising in isolation above the forest of Soquel Meadow in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County, California.

The dome as known to the Mono Indians as "the greeting place" ("wah-me-yelo"). John Muir encountered Fresno Dome, calling it "Wamello", in the 1870s, and used its summit to locate Fresno Grove (now known as Nelder Grove). [4] [5]

It is accessible by a trailhead which is a three-mile drive from the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway (part of the National Scenic Byway system). [3] The nearest town is Bass Lake, California, 9.1 miles (14.6 km) to the south.

At its base, sits the Fresno Dome campground, a backwoods campground accessible only by jeep trails. The campground is a favorite spot for deer hunters and is largely empty other than during deer season. The dome offers several technical free climbs rated class 5 or better, [6] with "Guides in a Snowbank" rated at 5.10a. [5]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Fresno Dome, California". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Fresno Dome". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. 1 2 Warszawski, Marek. "Hiking the Fresno Dome". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  4. Browning, Peter (1986). Place Names of the Sierra Nevada . Berkeley: Wilderness Press. p.  75. ISBN   0899971199.
  5. 1 2 "Fresno Dome (Wamello)". Mountain project, Inc. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  6. Roper, Steve (1976). The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. p. 149. ISBN   978-0871561473.